Contents

STAFFING

Examiner: Cheryl Ross-WalkerModerator: Cheryl Perrin

OTHER REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: The enrolling student must be a registered nurse and hold a current Blue Card.

RATIONALE

This course prepares registered nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary for the management of immunisation regimes for both children and adults based on the underlying philosophy of Primary Health Care and Public Health.

SYNOPSIS

This course focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills required for the management of immunisation programs for adults and children across a wide clinical spectrum. It offers registered nurses the opportunity to integrate and apply Health Management Protocols and Drug Therapy Protocols along with relevant immunisation theory to their clinical practice. Students will be required to undertake six hours of supervised clinical practice at an approved Immunisation Clinic. On successful completion of this course students will be eligible to apply for endorsement authorising them to practice under the Immunisation Program Drug Therapy Protocol.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1.

demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical background of immunisation (Assignment, Exam);

NOTES

The Medications Calculations assessment is due at time of clinical placement

2.

The Basic Life Support assessment is due at time of clinical placement.

3.

The 2 hour open examination will be held on 17 June 2009.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:There are no on campus attendance requirement for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. Students are required to complete 6 hours of supervised clinical practice in an Authorised Immunisation Clinic. During this clinical placement, students will have to demonstrate mastery of the Competency Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses with Drug Therapy Protocol (DTP) Endorsement which are based on the ANMC Competency Standards for the Advanced Nurse noted in the clinical assessment for this course.

Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:To complete an assessment item satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% for the written assignment and examination. Mastery of the Competency Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses with Drug Therapy Protocol Endorsement (Clinical Experience, Medication Calculations and Basic Life Support) will be assessed by the student's clinical preceptor, a Registered Nurse who holds DTP endorsement and who will use the Immunisation Clinical Assessment forms developed by USQ for this specific purpose. Failure to demonstrate competency will result in a Fail grade for this course.

Penalties for late submission of required work:If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment will apply for each working day late.

Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:To be assured of a pass in this course students must achieve an aggregate of 50% of the marks available for the Summative assessments and satisfactorily complete Clinical Experience, Medication Calculations and Basic Life Support.

Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for the summative assessment items in the course.

Examination information:An open examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.

Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held in the fourth week of the semester following this course offering and the examiner will advise students involved in writing of the date, time and location of any such examinations.

University Regulations:Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

9.

The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.

10.

If requested, students will be required to provide a copy of assignments submitted for assessment purposes. Such copies should be despatched to USQ within 24 hours of receipt of a request being made.

11.

The examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.

12.

The Faculty will normally only accept assessments that have been written, typed or printed on paper-based media, or electronic lodgement using EASE.

13.

Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special considerations. They should concontact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements.

14.

In the event a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover sheet the date of the public holiday for the Examiner's convenience.

15.

Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete Makeup). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non directed personal study.

16.

Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete- Both deferred Examination and Deferred Makeup).